How to determine if your child has sensory integration dysfunction

[Guest guest]

http://www.helium.com/items/499095-sensory-integration-dysfunction-symptoms

How to determine if your child has sensory

integration dysfunction

by Photographybabe

Sensory

Integration Dysfunction- symptoms, treatment, and resources

Sensory Integration Dysfunction is when the brain is not able to properly

receive and process sensory information from the basic five senses as well as

the vestibular and proprioceptive

senses. The vestibular sense is a sense of movement

and the proprioceptive sense is the internal

awareness of the position of ones own body. Sensory Integration (SI) Dysfunction

is " a relatively new term, it describes behaviors that pediatricians have

been seeing in kids for many years now. " The etiology, or cause, of SI

Dysfunction is currently unknown, however some researchers say there may be a

genetic basis to the cause.

There are many different signs and symptoms associated with SI Dysfunction in a

child and the symptoms may differ from child to child. Some SI Dysfunction

children may have hyperreactive senses, meaning that

they may respond to normal everyday sounds, smells, and sights in a negative

reaction to where as we would be perfectly fine with those things. Children who

are hyperreactive cannot handle so many sensory

inputs all at once. Some children are also hyper-reactive to touch and may

reach to a light, loving touch as if you were physically hurting them. The hyperreactive child may find that the labels in their shirt

or seams in there jeans are extremely irritating to them,

certain textures of foods may disgust them not because they don't like the

taste, but because they don't like the way it feels inside their mouth. Some

children with SI Dysfunction may have hyporeactive

senses, meaning that they barely respond to light sensory input. Hyporeactive children may love running into walls, crashing

on the floor, or pinching themselves because it feels good to them. They cannot

feel light touch very well and because of this, they crave firm, hard touch.

The hyporeactive child may also show reduced

reactions to sensation than a normal child would and therefore, a hyporeactive child may need to be watched carefully because

they may have a high tolerance for pain. Some general and frequent signs or

symptoms seen with SI dysfunction kids are as follows: difficulty with

coordination, difficulty with fine motor skills, difficulty in learning letter

formation, picky about what they eat, picky about the clothes they wear, picky

about the sheets they sleep on, overreaction to gentle touch, trouble with

memory, trouble with learning basic academic skills, difficulty with sequencing

events, lack of organization, and difficulty focusing on a task.

The most common medical treatment for children with SI Dysfunction is

Occupational Therapy. " The treatment stimulates the central nervous system

properly, and the child's adaptive behavior improves. " During Occupational

Therapy (OT) and occupational therapist can help the child begin to process the

sensory input more efficiently in many different ways most appropriate for the

specific child being treated. Some children with SI Dysfunction need to be

touched firmly instead of lightly, as most mothers would do. That is where the

therapist comes in and informs the parent or caregivers of this child to apply

firm pressure when hugging them or touching them. The therapist may also

recommend that the parent get or make a weighted blanket for their child to get

under at night or when ever they seem to be " running wild. " By doing

these simple OT treatment plans, the child will begin to improve in being able

to process their sensory input organization; the child will begin to be more

" calm. " Other medical treatment give to a child with SI Dysfunction

is Speech Therapy for the children who may have had speech delays or problems

with their language processing skills because of the " unorganized "

brain.

OT treatment intervention for SI Dysfunction can include many different things

and will be the best thing for the child. " The central principal of this

intervention approach is the provision of controlled sensory input, through

activities presented by the therapist to elicit adaptive responses from the

child thereby bringing about more efficient brain organization. " OT

treatment interventions that can be done with a child with SI Dysfunction are

the brushing technique, applying of firm pressure, and joint compressions. The

brushing technique is done to " awaken " the sense of touch. When doing

the brushing technique you want to use firm pressure on the entire surface of

the arms, hands, back, legs, and feet. The applying of firm pressure on a child

can easily be given by using any weighted blanket or vest, a large pillow, a

beanbag, or large stuffed animals. Using a weighted blanket to apply firm, deep

pressure will help the child calm down. After applying firm pressure, joint

compressions can be performed on or by the child. You can perform the joint

compressions on the child by gently pushing on each joint for about ten

seconds. The child can also compress their own joints and not even know they

are doing that. You can have the child do arm push-ups against the wall, jump

on the trampoline, or have them do a wheelbarrow walk. There are so many

different treatment plans that can be used to help children with SI

Dysfunction.

There are some precautions that an occupational therapist or occupational

therapy assistant should know. One precaution for a child who is hyporeactive is to make sure they stay safe and do not

accidentally harm themselves when trying to get proprioceptive

input. The hyporeactive child has a high tolerance

for pain and decreased sensation, so the child may harm thereself

and not even know they have. The therapist will need to try and teach the child

to seek out proprioceptive input in more safe ways

and inform the child's caregivers about ways to help there child get the proprioceptive input they need. Another thing therapists

should do with a child who has SI Dysfunction is to be sure to only touch the

child firmly from the front so the child does not feel harmed or scared when

you touch them.

Children with SI Dysfunction will be able to grow up to be mostly normal and

with OT treatment, a child with SI Dysfunction may grow up shoeing absolutely

no signs of ever having a disorder such as this. A child who was not able to

receive OT treatment may be able to compensate for their disorder and grow up

just fine as well. However, a child who grows up without OT treatment may also

encounter such problems as delayed language skills, continue to have problems

with food textures, and develop low muscle tones.

The reason I selected this diagnosis is because I want to work with kids and I

have seen kids with this disorder. I also selected this disorder because

Sensory Integration Dysfunction is a confusing disorder to treat and I felt

like I could learn a lot about it if I did my research paper on it. This

diagnosis is also a relatively new diagnosis that was recently discovered,

making this diagnosis less likely to be known.

There are some local and national community resources available for parents of

children with SI Dysfunction and I have listed a few that I found.

~ ASK (Absolutely Special Kids) This is a group that

meets on an as needed basis. The group consists of parents whose children have

Cerebral Palsy as well as a wide range of other special needs. Call United

Cerebral Palsy at 704-522-9912 weekdays 9:00am - 5:00pm for more information.

They are located in Mecklenburg

County.

~ ECAC (Exceptional Children's Assistance

Center) This is a private, nonprofit organization committed to

improving the lives and education of children with or without special needs. ECAC's services include individual assistance with

educational problems, referrals to appropriate services, parent's advocacy

workshops, a (free) lending library, services for members of minorities, and

free literature by mail on various topics. Call them at 704-892-1321 or at

1-800-962-6817 Monday through Thursday 9:00am 4:00pm. They are located at 907 Barra Row, Suite

102-103, son, NC 28036. You can also visit them at

www.ecac-parentcenter.org.

~ Sensory Integration Education and Research Foundation (SIERF) SIERF is a

primary resource provider in the education, research, and treatment of

Dysfunction of Sensory Integration (also known as Sensory Integration

Dysfunction). SIERF's dual missions are to 1) provide

education to consumers and professionals, 2) to support research efforts in the

areas of Dysfunction of Sensory Integration and related disorders. The website

attempts to meet the needs of parents, educators, medical professionals, and

therapists by providing access to every aspect of SI. You can mail them at P.O. Box 30, Camp

Hill, PA 17001-0030,

call them at 717-731-8672, e-mail them at info@..., or even visit their

website at www.sierf.org.

by

Chitwood

Sensory

Integration Dysfunction, or Sensory Processing Disorder, is a disorder of the

senses. This disorder usually comes about when a person's senses are

functioning outside of normal limits. For example, you might have or have

observed a 4-yr-old child who is withdrawn and stays to herself. During circle

time at school, she will be hesitant to participate in group activities, such

as question and answer sessions, naming objects through encouragement by the

teacher, or interact with her classmates. This could means that she's shy, or

this could mean that she has Sensory Integration Dysfunction. She might have a

hard time interacting with her classmates because the contact, to her, is

overwhelming and overstimulating. Maybe she does

better with one-on-one contact. You might have also observed the child who has

extreme emotional outbursts. He usually gets angry easily, he tends to be

controlling (maybe even a bully), and he doesn't seem to know that his behavior

is inappropriate. He also doesn't seem to be able to calm himself down. He's in

a zone, and he doesn't even hear his mother instructing him to take a deep

breath or count to 10.

There is something that you or someone you know can do to help your

child if you think he/she has Sensory Integration Dysfunction. To help you get

started, here are three excellent sources I'd like to share with you on this

subject:

1)

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/

This website is excellent. It tells you just about

everything you need to know about

this disorder, including symptoms, sensory activities, therapy options,

resources, and

ways to deal with this disorder.

2)

" The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing

Disorder " , a

book written by Carol Stock Kranowitz. She's written

other books about this disorder.

She also has a website @ . It's an excellent source

of information from books/CDs/DVDs to resources (including a SPD Treatment

Directory

and therapy listings) to upcoming events.

3) Your

local library has several books on Sensory Integration Dysfunction. If it's not

in

your local library, ask your librarian for options on obtaining a certain

book from another library. One book that you might like to check out is

" Unlocking the

mystery of sensory dysfunction a resource for anyone who works with, or lives

with, a

child with sensory issues "

To

determine if your child has sensory integration dysfunction, it's important to

observe what behaviors would be considered symptoms of this disorder. Next, ask

other individuals who are around your child on a regular basis to make their

own observations. Then, get your child evaluated either by a

occupational therapist or behavioral psychologist, or whoever you believe to be

most appropriate to evaluate your child at a professional level. Generally, the

person who will evaluate your child will be the occupational therapist. Before

the evaluation, you can request a Sensory Integration Dysfunction Profile, so

that you can check off the behaviors and traits that pertain to your child.

This makes it easier for the therapist or qualified person evaluating your

child to accurately assess your child. You see your child and observe him/her

more than anyone else. Your observations and opinions are just as important as

the professional's.

After the

therapist evaluates your child, he/she will prepare the results and relay them

to you. Either your child will be diagnosed with sensory integration disorder

or she won't. If she is, she will either be referred for therapy (if the

evaluator is not a therapist) or asked to start therapy services. You will be

notified when therapy will start.

It is so

important to remember that it's okay to ask questions. Don't be afraid that the

therapist or whoever isn't going to believe you when you say you think your

child has Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Study up on the disorder, and let

the therapist know that you've done your homework. Be firm on getting your

child evaluated, especially if you have an instinct that your child needs help.

If you don't get your child evaluated and you think/know that your child has a

possibility of having this disorder, you'll be doing your child a disservice.

Get him/her the help that he/she needs before it's too late to correct the

problem(s)!

by wannashare

Several

years ago my son was referred to a physical therapist because his heal cords

were extremely tight. Little did I know that this referral would set us on a

journey of sadness, understanding, and eventually, joy.

At the

age of three my son was walking on his tip toes nearly all of the time. As a

result, his heal cords became so tight that it was interfering with his ability

to flex his feet and to walk " normal " . After a lengthy discussion,

the physical therapist told us that she felt that he had a vestibular

sensory integration disorder. This meant that the vestibular

area of his inner ear needed additional/different sensory input or stimulation

in order for him to feel comfortable or " normal " . Walking on his tip

toes altered his sense of balance to degree such that he was receiving this

additional sensory input. She also explained that many of his behaviors as a

younger child could be a result of SID. From a very young age, he required a

lot of touch. By that I mean that he would seem extremely agitated if he was

not being held or at least touched (holding his hand, placing your hand on his

chest or back, etc.). At first I believed that he was simply spoiled. But it

was soon obvious that his cries revealed his anxiety, fear, and frustrations

from not being touched. He was truly anxiety ridden because of his lack of

physical contact and stimulation (he was also eventually diagnosed with a clinically

significant anxiety disorder). Usually, he needed to be rocked to truly calm

him down. Thank goodness for the baby swing. We found that the motion of the

baby swing not only calmed him, but allowed him to sleep as well. We soon

discovered that he would swing for hours if you let him. As he grew a little

older, he would rock forward and back on the couch as though he were in a

rocking chair. This too seemed to provide him with some type of internal peace.

Initially, I cried. What had I done wrong while I was pregnant? These

types of questions ran through my mind frequently. Eventually, I was able to

accept that I had done nothing to cause his need for additional sensory input.

I was also able to better understand why he would do some of the things he was

doing - walking on his tip toes, rocking on the couch, swinging for long

periods of time. Please don't get me wrong, we have had him tested for Asperger's Syndrome and it turns out that he is a very

intelligent little boy (but not autistic). As he has gotten older, we have been

able to not only understand his 'odd' behaviors, but we have been better able

to help him help himself with these calming stimuli when he seems to need it

most. We have found that he is an extremely sweet and intelligent little boy

when he is allowed to provide himself with this type of stimuli. He is at

peace, happy, and fun loving. Our anxiety and sadness over his diagnosis has

given way to acceptance and understanding. This journey has actually allowed us

to better accept other struggles that he has had along the way.

Please,

if you see your child seeming to truly need certain stimuli that would seem

almost odd for us, don't ask him to stop. Don't punish or degrade him. Please,

allow him to be himself and to help himself feel " normal " . And, by

all means, talk to your pediatrician.

by

Royce

Radcliffe

Sensory

Integration Dysfunction (SID) is where a child can use their senses to collect

information same as anyone else, but the perception of them is in some way

skewed. The analysis of the information can often lead to confusion or even

pain in the child, and it can be a very frightening experience, the world as

this twisted nightmare, like a Picasso painting that just won't stop...

This

disorder can live on its own but it is often connected to other disorders, the

most common being dyslexia. Unlike many conditions which need a medically

licensed doctor to diagnose, this can be diagnosed by an occupational

therapist. There is no known cure but there are many treatment options.

Sensory

integration is the process of taking in information through the senses and then

mentally correlating that with prior memories to arrive at a logical conclusion

as to their meaning.

Some

children with this disorder barely exhibit it. If it is obvious you would

certainly know about it by now, and you should see a professional immediately.

But when it is more subtle diagnosing it can be difficult.

What is

their life like now? Are they having troubles in school or life? If not, then

even if this disorder technically exists, there would be no point in treating

it as it has no effect on the child's life. Professionals speculate that many

adults live with a mild form of this disorder... in a subjective world

different ways of processing information only get noticed when they interfere.

You

obviously suspect something or you would not be reading this. Most likely this

stems from problems in school. The question now is whether your child is going

poorly because of a lack of effort, a lack of ability, or this disorder. Many

have said that the occupational therapists of the world are too quick to

diagnose children who are merely apathetic toward schoolwork as having a

serious disorder.

The key

is to view how the child does with activities they enjoy that are challenging.

Try to engage them in something fun yet complex and see how they process the

information. If things come out confused, you are probably right in your

suspicion.

While this

is a serious disorder, the symptoms should be fairly obvious and easily

spotted. A child with SID can be treated and reintegrated into society without

losing a step. The key is to be observant and not jump to conclusions. And if

you suspect something but cannot prove it, remember... it's all subjective

anyway.

by Annemarie Garrett

Sensory

Integration Dysfunction (increasingly termed Sensory Processing Disorder-SPD)

can be a very challenging condition. Every day each of us takes in an enormous

amount of stimuli through our senses. Each of us must sort through and make

sense of all that stimuli- often in the blink of an eye. A child with SPD has

difficulty with that process: something interferes with his brain's ability to

make sense of what the world is telling him. This can manifest in many

different ways, but the two main categories all these manifestations fall under

are hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. In fact,

some children may be hypersensitive in some areas and hyposensitive

in others.

Hypersensitivity

is summed up ably in the title of a book about SPD by Sharon Heller: Too Loud,

Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight. For SPD children who

are hypersensitive, the world is too much with them. That loud, sudden noise

that made you merely turn your head is a painful shock to your hypersensitive

child. Background noise that you screen out automatically presses in on her

relentlessly. Dressing can be torture, as each seam in the pants or wrinkle in

the socks is felt by your hypersensitive child like an insistent finger poking

him in the ribs. Meals, a challenge to many parents,

can be downright unbearable: hypersensitive children, with their aversions to

many textures and smells, are notoriously picky eaters. And perhaps most

painfully of all, some hypersensitive children cannot bear to be kissed.

Hyposensitive children, on the other hand,

do not register all the stimuli that they otherwise would. They might have been

the " good " babies, content to watch the world go by and making few

demands. On the other hand, they can be extremely challenging children who seek

out excessive stimuli in order to register sensation. Hyposensitive

children sometimes deliberately hurl themselves at people or crash into

furniture. They may take heart-stopping risks while at play at the playground.

They may spin incessantly or want to swing for hours. Or they may seek

stimulation orally, chewing on anything they can to the point of chewing holes

in their clothes.

If these

symptoms ring a bell, you might want to procure a copy of The Out of Sync Child

by Carol Stock Kranowitz, which comes highly

recommended by parents of children with SPD. Of course, for true diagnosis you

will need your pediatrician to refer you to an occupational therapist. A good

occupational therapist truly can make a world of difference for your child as

he tries to navigate the world.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Joyce

On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 8:47 PM, Joyce Hudson <bjoyful@...> wrote:

http://www.helium.com/items/499095-sensory-integration-dysfunction-symptoms

How to determine if your child has sensory integration dysfunction

by Photographybabe

Sensory Integration Dysfunction- symptoms, treatment, and resources Sensory Integration Dysfunction is when the brain is not able to properly receive and process sensory information from the basic five senses as well as the vestibular and proprioceptive senses. The vestibular sense is a sense of movement and the proprioceptive sense is the internal awareness of the position of ones own body. Sensory Integration (SI) Dysfunction is " a relatively new term, it describes behaviors that pediatricians have been seeing in kids for many years now. " The etiology, or cause, of SI Dysfunction is currently unknown, however some researchers say there may be a genetic basis to the cause.

There are many different signs and symptoms associated with SI Dysfunction in a child and the symptoms may differ from child to child. Some SI Dysfunction children may have hyperreactive senses, meaning that they may respond to normal everyday sounds, smells, and sights in a negative reaction to where as we would be perfectly fine with those things. Children who are hyperreactive cannot handle so many sensory inputs all at once. Some children are also hyper-reactive to touch and may reach to a light, loving touch as if you were physically hurting them. The hyperreactive child may find that the labels in their shirt or seams in there jeans are extremely irritating to them, certain textures of foods may disgust them not because they don't like the taste, but because they don't like the way it feels inside their mouth. Some children with SI Dysfunction may have hyporeactive senses, meaning that they barely respond to light sensory input. Hyporeactive children may love running into walls, crashing on the floor, or pinching themselves because it feels good to them. They cannot feel light touch very well and because of this, they crave firm, hard touch. The hyporeactive child may also show reduced reactions to sensation than a normal child would and therefore, a hyporeactive child may need to be watched carefully because they may have a high tolerance for pain. Some general and frequent signs or symptoms seen with SI dysfunction kids are as follows: difficulty with coordination, difficulty with fine motor skills, difficulty in learning letter formation, picky about what they eat, picky about the clothes they wear, picky about the sheets they sleep on, overreaction to gentle touch, trouble with memory, trouble with learning basic academic skills, difficulty with sequencing events, lack of organization, and difficulty focusing on a task.

The most common medical treatment for children with SI Dysfunction is Occupational Therapy. " The treatment stimulates the central nervous system properly, and the child's adaptive behavior improves. " During Occupational Therapy (OT) and occupational therapist can help the child begin to process the sensory input more efficiently in many different ways most appropriate for the specific child being treated. Some children with SI Dysfunction need to be touched firmly instead of lightly, as most mothers would do. That is where the therapist comes in and informs the parent or caregivers of this child to apply firm pressure when hugging them or touching them. The therapist may also recommend that the parent get or make a weighted blanket for their child to get under at night or when ever they seem to be " running wild. " By doing these simple OT treatment plans, the child will begin to improve in being able to process their sensory input organization; the child will begin to be more " calm. " Other medical treatment give to a child with SI Dysfunction is Speech Therapy for the children who may have had speech delays or problems with their language processing skills because of the " unorganized " brain.

OT treatment intervention for SI Dysfunction can include many different things and will be the best thing for the child. " The central principal of this intervention approach is the provision of controlled sensory input, through activities presented by the therapist to elicit adaptive responses from the child thereby bringing about more efficient brain organization. " OT treatment interventions that can be done with a child with SI Dysfunction are the brushing technique, applying of firm pressure, and joint compressions. The brushing technique is done to " awaken " the sense of touch. When doing the brushing technique you want to use firm pressure on the entire surface of the arms, hands, back, legs, and feet. The applying of firm pressure on a child can easily be given by using any weighted blanket or vest, a large pillow, a beanbag, or large stuffed animals. Using a weighted blanket to apply firm, deep pressure will help the child calm down. After applying firm pressure, joint compressions can be performed on or by the child. You can perform the joint compressions on the child by gently pushing on each joint for about ten seconds. The child can also compress their own joints and not even know they are doing that. You can have the child do arm push-ups against the wall, jump on the trampoline, or have them do a wheelbarrow walk. There are so many different treatment plans that can be used to help children with SI Dysfunction.

There are some precautions that an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant should know. One precaution for a child who is hyporeactive is to make sure they stay safe and do not accidentally harm themselves when trying to get proprioceptive input. The hyporeactive child has a high tolerance for pain and decreased sensation, so the child may harm thereself and not even know they have. The therapist will need to try and teach the child to seek out proprioceptive input in more safe ways and inform the child's caregivers about ways to help there child get the proprioceptive input they need. Another thing therapists should do with a child who has SI Dysfunction is to be sure to only touch the child firmly from the front so the child does not feel harmed or scared when you touch them.

Children with SI Dysfunction will be able to grow up to be mostly normal and with OT treatment, a child with SI Dysfunction may grow up shoeing absolutely no signs of ever having a disorder such as this. A child who was not able to receive OT treatment may be able to compensate for their disorder and grow up just fine as well. However, a child who grows up without OT treatment may also encounter such problems as delayed language skills, continue to have problems with food textures, and develop low muscle tones.

The reason I selected this diagnosis is because I want to work with kids and I have seen kids with this disorder. I also selected this disorder because Sensory Integration Dysfunction is a confusing disorder to treat and I felt like I could learn a lot about it if I did my research paper on it. This diagnosis is also a relatively new diagnosis that was recently discovered, making this diagnosis less likely to be known.

There are some local and national community resources available for parents of children with SI Dysfunction and I have listed a few that I found. ~ ASK (Absolutely Special Kids) This is a group that meets on an as needed basis. The group consists of parents whose children have Cerebral Palsy as well as a wide range of other special needs. Call United Cerebral Palsy at 704-522-9912 weekdays 9:00am - 5:00pm for more information. They are located in Mecklenburg County.

~ ECAC (Exceptional Children's Assistance Center) This is a private, nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives and education of children with or without special needs. ECAC's services include individual assistance with educational problems, referrals to appropriate services, parent's advocacy workshops, a (free) lending library, services for members of minorities, and free literature by mail on various topics. Call them at 704-892-1321 or at 1-800-962-6817 Monday through Thursday 9:00am 4:00pm. They are located at 907 Barra Row, Suite 102-103, son, NC 28036. You can also visit them at www.ecac-parentcenter.org.

~ Sensory Integration Education and Research Foundation (SIERF) SIERF is a primary resource provider in the education, research, and treatment of Dysfunction of Sensory Integration (also known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction). SIERF's dual missions are to 1) provide education to consumers and professionals, 2) to support research efforts in the areas of Dysfunction of Sensory Integration and related disorders. The website attempts to meet the needs of parents, educators, medical professionals, and therapists by providing access to every aspect of SI. You can mail them at P.O. Box 30, Camp Hill, PA 17001-0030, call them at 717-731-8672, e-mail them at info@..., or even visit their website at www.sierf.org.

by Chitwood

Sensory Integration Dysfunction, or Sensory Processing Disorder, is a disorder of the senses. This disorder usually comes about when a person's senses are functioning outside of normal limits. For example, you might have or have observed a 4-yr-old child who is withdrawn and stays to herself. During circle time at school, she will be hesitant to participate in group activities, such as question and answer sessions, naming objects through encouragement by the teacher, or interact with her classmates. This could means that she's shy, or this could mean that she has Sensory Integration Dysfunction. She might have a hard time interacting with her classmates because the contact, to her, is overwhelming and overstimulating. Maybe she does better with one-on-one contact. You might have also observed the child who has extreme emotional outbursts. He usually gets angry easily, he tends to be controlling (maybe even a bully), and he doesn't seem to know that his behavior is inappropriate. He also doesn't seem to be able to calm himself down. He's in a zone, and he doesn't even hear his mother instructing him to take a deep breath or count to 10.

There is something that you or someone you know can do to help your child if you think he/she has Sensory Integration Dysfunction. To help you get started, here are three excellent sources I'd like to share with you on this subject:

1) http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/ This website is excellent. It tells you just about everything you need to know about

this disorder, including symptoms, sensory activities, therapy options, resources, and ways to deal with this disorder.

2) " The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder " , a book written by Carol Stock Kranowitz. She's written other books about this disorder.

She also has a website @ . It's an excellent source of information from books/CDs/DVDs to resources (including a SPD Treatment Directory and therapy listings) to upcoming events.

3) Your local library has several books on Sensory Integration Dysfunction. If it's not in your local library, ask your librarian for options on obtaining a certain

book from another library. One book that you might like to check out is " Unlocking the mystery of sensory dysfunction a resource for anyone who works with, or lives with, a child with sensory issues "

To determine if your child has sensory integration dysfunction, it's important to observe what behaviors would be considered symptoms of this disorder. Next, ask other individuals who are around your child on a regular basis to make their own observations. Then, get your child evaluated either by a occupational therapist or behavioral psychologist, or whoever you believe to be most appropriate to evaluate your child at a professional level. Generally, the person who will evaluate your child will be the occupational therapist. Before the evaluation, you can request a Sensory Integration Dysfunction Profile, so that you can check off the behaviors and traits that pertain to your child. This makes it easier for the therapist or qualified person evaluating your child to accurately assess your child. You see your child and observe him/her more than anyone else. Your observations and opinions are just as important as the professional's.

After the therapist evaluates your child, he/she will prepare the results and relay them to you. Either your child will be diagnosed with sensory integration disorder or she won't. If she is, she will either be referred for therapy (if the evaluator is not a therapist) or asked to start therapy services. You will be notified when therapy will start.

It is so important to remember that it's okay to ask questions. Don't be afraid that the therapist or whoever isn't going to believe you when you say you think your child has Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Study up on the disorder, and let the therapist know that you've done your homework. Be firm on getting your child evaluated, especially if you have an instinct that your child needs help. If you don't get your child evaluated and you think/know that your child has a possibility of having this disorder, you'll be doing your child a disservice. Get him/her the help that he/she needs before it's too late to correct the problem(s)!

by wannashare

Several years ago my son was referred to a physical therapist because his heal cords were extremely tight. Little did I know that this referral would set us on a journey of sadness, understanding, and eventually, joy.

At the age of three my son was walking on his tip toes nearly all of the time. As a result, his heal cords became so tight that it was interfering with his ability to flex his feet and to walk " normal " . After a lengthy discussion, the physical therapist told us that she felt that he had a vestibular sensory integration disorder. This meant that the vestibular area of his inner ear needed additional/different sensory input or stimulation in order for him to feel comfortable or " normal " . Walking on his tip toes altered his sense of balance to degree such that he was receiving this additional sensory input. She also explained that many of his behaviors as a younger child could be a result of SID. From a very young age, he required a lot of touch. By that I mean that he would seem extremely agitated if he was not being held or at least touched (holding his hand, placing your hand on his chest or back, etc.). At first I believed that he was simply spoiled. But it was soon obvious that his cries revealed his anxiety, fear, and frustrations from not being touched. He was truly anxiety ridden because of his lack of physical contact and stimulation (he was also eventually diagnosed with a clinically significant anxiety disorder). Usually, he needed to be rocked to truly calm him down. Thank goodness for the baby swing. We found that the motion of the baby swing not only calmed him, but allowed him to sleep as well. We soon discovered that he would swing for hours if you let him. As he grew a little older, he would rock forward and back on the couch as though he were in a rocking chair. This too seemed to provide him with some type of internal peace.

Initially, I cried. What had I done wrong while I was pregnant? These types of questions ran through my mind frequently. Eventually, I was able to accept that I had done nothing to cause his need for additional sensory input. I was also able to better understand why he would do some of the things he was doing - walking on his tip toes, rocking on the couch, swinging for long periods of time. Please don't get me wrong, we have had him tested for Asperger's Syndrome and it turns out that he is a very intelligent little boy (but not autistic). As he has gotten older, we have been able to not only understand his 'odd' behaviors, but we have been better able to help him help himself with these calming stimuli when he seems to need it most. We have found that he is an extremely sweet and intelligent little boy when he is allowed to provide himself with this type of stimuli. He is at peace, happy, and fun loving. Our anxiety and sadness over his diagnosis has given way to acceptance and understanding. This journey has actually allowed us to better accept other struggles that he has had along the way.

Please, if you see your child seeming to truly need certain stimuli that would seem almost odd for us, don't ask him to stop. Don't punish or degrade him. Please, allow him to be himself and to help himself feel " normal " . And, by all means, talk to your pediatrician.

by Royce Radcliffe

Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID) is where a child can use their senses to collect information same as anyone else, but the perception of them is in some way skewed. The analysis of the information can often lead to confusion or even pain in the child, and it can be a very frightening experience, the world as this twisted nightmare, like a Picasso painting that just won't stop...

This disorder can live on its own but it is often connected to other disorders, the most common being dyslexia. Unlike many conditions which need a medically licensed doctor to diagnose, this can be diagnosed by an occupational therapist. There is no known cure but there are many treatment options.

Sensory integration is the process of taking in information through the senses and then mentally correlating that with prior memories to arrive at a logical conclusion as to their meaning.

Some children with this disorder barely exhibit it. If it is obvious you would certainly know about it by now, and you should see a professional immediately. But when it is more subtle diagnosing it can be difficult.

What is their life like now? Are they having troubles in school or life? If not, then even if this disorder technically exists, there would be no point in treating it as it has no effect on the child's life. Professionals speculate that many adults live with a mild form of this disorder... in a subjective world different ways of processing information only get noticed when they interfere.

You obviously suspect something or you would not be reading this. Most likely this stems from problems in school. The question now is whether your child is going poorly because of a lack of effort, a lack of ability, or this disorder. Many have said that the occupational therapists of the world are too quick to diagnose children who are merely apathetic toward schoolwork as having a serious disorder.

The key is to view how the child does with activities they enjoy that are challenging. Try to engage them in something fun yet complex and see how they process the information. If things come out confused, you are probably right in your suspicion.

While this is a serious disorder, the symptoms should be fairly obvious and easily spotted. A child with SID can be treated and reintegrated into society without losing a step. The key is to be observant and not jump to conclusions. And if you suspect something but cannot prove it, remember... it's all subjective anyway.

by Annemarie Garrett

Sensory Integration Dysfunction (increasingly termed Sensory Processing Disorder-SPD) can be a very challenging condition. Every day each of us takes in an enormous amount of stimuli through our senses. Each of us must sort through and make sense of all that stimuli- often in the blink of an eye. A child with SPD has difficulty with that process: something interferes with his brain's ability to make sense of what the world is telling him. This can manifest in many different ways, but the two main categories all these manifestations fall under are hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. In fact, some children may be hypersensitive in some areas and hyposensitive in others.

Hypersensitivity is summed up ably in the title of a book about SPD by Sharon Heller: Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight. For SPD children who are hypersensitive, the world is too much with them. That loud, sudden noise that made you merely turn your head is a painful shock to your hypersensitive child. Background noise that you screen out automatically presses in on her relentlessly. Dressing can be torture, as each seam in the pants or wrinkle in the socks is felt by your hypersensitive child like an insistent finger poking him in the ribs. Meals, a challenge to many parents, can be downright unbearable: hypersensitive children, with their aversions to many textures and smells, are notoriously picky eaters. And perhaps most painfully of all, some hypersensitive children cannot bear to be kissed.

Hyposensitive children, on the other hand, do not register all the stimuli that they otherwise would. They might have been the " good " babies, content to watch the world go by and making few demands. On the other hand, they can be extremely challenging children who seek out excessive stimuli in order to register sensation. Hyposensitive children sometimes deliberately hurl themselves at people or crash into furniture. They may take heart-stopping risks while at play at the playground. They may spin incessantly or want to swing for hours. Or they may seek stimulation orally, chewing on anything they can to the point of chewing holes in their clothes.

If these symptoms ring a bell, you might want to procure a copy of The Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, which comes highly recommended by parents of children with SPD. Of course, for true diagnosis you will need your pediatrician to refer you to an occupational therapist. A good occupational therapist truly can make a world of difference for your child as he tries to navigate the world.

[Guest guest]

wow,

lot of stuff there!!!!

--- Joyce Hudson <bjoyful@...> wrote:

>

http://www.helium.com/items/499095-sensory-integration-dysfunction-symptoms

> How to determine if your child has sensory

> integration dysfunction

> by Photographybabe

> Sensory Integration Dysfunction- symptoms,

> treatment, and resources

> Sensory Integration Dysfunction is when the brain is

> not able to properly receive and process sensory

> information from the basic five senses as well as

> the vestibular and proprioceptive senses. The

> vestibular sense is a sense of movement and the

> proprioceptive sense is the internal awareness of

> the position of ones own body. Sensory Integration

> (SI) Dysfunction is " a relatively new term, it

> describes behaviors that pediatricians have been

> seeing in kids for many years now. " The etiology, or

> cause, of SI Dysfunction is currently unknown,

> however some researchers say there may be a genetic

> basis to the cause.

> There are many different signs and symptoms

> associated with SI Dysfunction in a child and the

> symptoms may differ from child to child. Some SI

> Dysfunction children may have hyperreactive senses,

> meaning that they may respond to normal everyday

> sounds, smells, and sights in a negative reaction to

> where as we would be perfectly fine with those

> things. Children who are hyperreactive cannot handle

> so many sensory inputs all at once. Some children

> are also hyper-reactive to touch and may reach to a

> light, loving touch as if you were physically

> hurting them. The hyperreactive child may find that

> the labels in their shirt or seams in there jeans

> are extremely irritating to them, certain textures

> of foods may disgust them not because they don't

> like the taste, but because they don't like the way

> it feels inside their mouth. Some children with SI

> Dysfunction may have hyporeactive senses, meaning

> that they barely respond to light sensory input.

> Hyporeactive children may love running into walls,

> crashing on the floor, or pinching themselves

> because it feels good to them. They cannot feel

> light touch very well and because of this, they

> crave firm, hard touch. The hyporeactive child may

> also show reduced reactions to sensation than a

> normal child would and therefore, a hyporeactive

> child may need to be watched carefully because they

> may have a high tolerance for pain. Some general and

> frequent signs or symptoms seen with SI dysfunction

> kids are as follows: difficulty with coordination,

> difficulty with fine motor skills, difficulty in

> learning letter formation, picky about what they

> eat, picky about the clothes they wear, picky about

> the sheets they sleep on, overreaction to gentle

> touch, trouble with memory, trouble with learning

> basic academic skills, difficulty with sequencing

> events, lack of organization, and difficulty

> focusing on a task.

> The most common medical treatment for children with

> SI Dysfunction is Occupational Therapy. " The

> treatment stimulates the central nervous system

> properly, and the child's adaptive behavior

> improves. " During Occupational Therapy (OT) and

> occupational therapist can help the child begin to

> process the sensory input more efficiently in many

> different ways most appropriate for the specific

> child being treated. Some children with SI

> Dysfunction need to be touched firmly instead of

> lightly, as most mothers would do. That is where the

> therapist comes in and informs the parent or

> caregivers of this child to apply firm pressure when

> hugging them or touching them. The therapist may

> also recommend that the parent get or make a

> weighted blanket for their child to get under at

> night or when ever they seem to be " running wild. "

> By doing these simple OT treatment plans, the child

> will begin to improve in being able to process their

> sensory input organization; the child will begin to

> be more " calm. " Other medical treatment give to a

> child with SI Dysfunction is Speech Therapy for the

> children who may have had speech delays or problems

> with their language processing skills because of the

> " unorganized " brain.

> OT treatment intervention for SI Dysfunction can

> include many different things and will be the best

> thing for the child. " The central principal of this

> intervention approach is the provision of controlled

> sensory input, through activities presented by the

> therapist to elicit adaptive responses from the

> child thereby bringing about more efficient brain

> organization. " OT treatment interventions that can

> be done with a child with SI Dysfunction are the

> brushing technique, applying of firm pressure, and

> joint compressions. The brushing technique is done

> to " awaken " the sense of touch. When doing the

> brushing technique you want to use firm pressure on

> the entire surface of the arms, hands, back, legs,

> and feet. The applying of firm pressure on a child

> can easily be given by using any weighted blanket or

> vest, a large pillow, a beanbag, or large stuffed

> animals. Using a weighted blanket to apply firm,

> deep pressure will help the child calm down. After

> applying firm pressure, joint compressions can be

> performed on or by the child. You can perform the

> joint compressions on the child by gently pushing on

> each joint for about ten seconds. The child can also

> compress their own joints and not even know they are

> doing that. You can have the child do arm push-ups

> against the wall, jump on the trampoline, or have

> them do a wheelbarrow walk. There are so many

> different treatment plans that can be used to help

> children with SI Dysfunction.

> There are some precautions that an occupational

> therapist or occupational therapy assistant should

> know. One precaution for a child who is hyporeactive

> is to make sure they stay safe and do not

> accidentally harm themselves when trying to get

> proprioceptive input. The hyporeactive child has a

> high tolerance for pain and decreased sensation, so

> the child may harm thereself and not even know they

> have. The therapist will need to try and teach the

> child to seek out proprioceptive input in more safe

> ways and inform the child's caregivers about ways to

> help there child get the proprioceptive input they

> need. Another thing therapists should do with a

> child who has SI Dysfunction is to be sure to only

> touch the child firmly from the front so the child

> does not feel harmed or scared when you touch them.

> Children with SI Dysfunction will be able to grow up

> to be mostly normal and with OT treatment, a child

> with SI Dysfunction may grow up shoeing absolutely

> no signs of ever having a disorder such as this. A

> child who was not able to receive OT treatment may

> be able to compensate for their disorder and grow up

> just fine as well. However, a child who grows up

> without OT treatment may also encounter such

> problems as delayed language skills, continue to

> have problems with food textures, and develop low

> muscle tones.

> The reason I selected this diagnosis is because I

> want to work with kids and I have seen kids with

> this disorder. I also selected this disorder because

> Sensory Integration Dysfunction is a confusing

> disorder to treat and I felt like I could learn a

> lot about it if I did my research paper on it. This

> diagnosis is also a relatively new diagnosis that

> was recently discovered, making this diagnosis less

> likely to be known.

> There are some local and national community

> resources available for parents of children with SI

> Dysfunction and I have listed a few that I found.

> ~ ASK (Absolutely Special Kids) This is a group that

> meets on an as needed basis. The group consists of

> parents whose children have Cerebral Palsy as well

> as a wide range of other special needs. Call United

> Cerebral Palsy at 704-522-9912 weekdays 9:00am -

> 5:00pm for more information. They are located in

> Mecklenburg County.

> ~ ECAC (Exceptional Children's Assistance Center)

> This is a private, nonprofit organization committed

> to improving the lives and education of children

> with or without special needs. ECAC's services

> include individual assistance with educational

> problems, referrals to appropriate services,

> parent's advocacy workshops, a (free) lending

> library, services for members of minorities, and

> free literature by mail on various topics. Call them

> at 704-892-1321 or at 1-800-962-6817 Monday through

> Thursday 9:00am 4:00pm. They are located at 907

> Barra Row, Suite 102-103, son, NC 28036. You

> can also visit them at www.ecac-parentcenter.org.

> ~ Sensory Integration Education and Research

> Foundation (SIERF) SIERF is a primary resource

> provider in the education, research, and treatment

> of Dysfunction of Sensory Integration (also known as

> Sensory Integration Dysfunction). SIERF's dual

> missions are to 1) provide education to consumers

> and professionals, 2) to support research efforts in

> the areas of Dysfunction of Sensory Integration and

> related disorders. The website attempts to meet the

> needs of parents, educators, medical professionals,

> and therapists by providing access to every aspect

> of SI. You can mail them at P.O. Box 30, Camp Hill,

> PA 17001-0030, call them at 717-731-8672, e-mail

> them at info@..., or even visit their website

> at www.sierf.org.

>

> by Chitwood

> Sensory Integration Dysfunction, or Sensory

> Processing Disorder, is a disorder of the senses.

> This disorder usually comes about when a person's

> senses are functioning outside of normal limits. For

> example, you might have or have observed a 4-yr-old

> child who is withdrawn and stays to herself. During

> circle time at school, she will be hesitant to

> participate in group activities, such as question

> and answer sessions, naming objects through

> encouragement by the teacher, or interact with her

> classmates. This could means that she's shy, or this

> could mean that she has Sensory Integration

> Dysfunction. She might have a hard time interacting

> with her classmates because the contact, to her, is

> overwhelming

=== message truncated ===

Spiritual freedom is my birthright.

I am a free thinker. I am able to rise above mental

prejudices and stereotypes of others.

I am a free thinker. Nobody and nothing can manipulate

me or deceive me.

I am a free thinker. I freely choose truth and love.

Today, I embrace a greater degree of spiritual

freedom.

[Guest guest]

yes it is

On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 9:07 PM, Marty Cline <stompingelk@...> wrote:

wow,lot of stuff there!!!!

--- Joyce Hudson <bjoyful@...> wrote:>http://www.helium.com/items/499095-sensory-integration-dysfunction-symptoms

> How to determine if your child has sensory> integration dysfunction> by Photographybabe> Sensory Integration Dysfunction- symptoms,> treatment, and resources > Sensory Integration Dysfunction is when the brain is

> not able to properly receive and process sensory> information from the basic five senses as well as> the vestibular and proprioceptive senses. The> vestibular sense is a sense of movement and the

> proprioceptive sense is the internal awareness of> the position of ones own body. Sensory Integration> (SI) Dysfunction is " a relatively new term, it> describes behaviors that pediatricians have been

> seeing in kids for many years now. " The etiology, or> cause, of SI Dysfunction is currently unknown,> however some researchers say there may be a genetic> basis to the cause. > There are many different signs and symptoms

> associated with SI Dysfunction in a child and the> symptoms may differ from child to child. Some SI> Dysfunction children may have hyperreactive senses,> meaning that they may respond to normal everyday

> sounds, smells, and sights in a negative reaction to> where as we would be perfectly fine with those> things. Children who are hyperreactive cannot handle> so many sensory inputs all at once. Some children

> are also hyper-reactive to touch and may reach to a> light, loving touch as if you were physically> hurting them. The hyperreactive child may find that> the labels in their shirt or seams in there jeans

> are extremely irritating to them, certain textures> of foods may disgust them not because they don't> like the taste, but because they don't like the way> it feels inside their mouth. Some children with SI

> Dysfunction may have hyporeactive senses, meaning> that they barely respond to light sensory input.> Hyporeactive children may love running into walls,> crashing on the floor, or pinching themselves

> because it feels good to them. They cannot feel> light touch very well and because of this, they> crave firm, hard touch. The hyporeactive child may> also show reduced reactions to sensation than a

> normal child would and therefore, a hyporeactive> child may need to be watched carefully because they> may have a high tolerance for pain. Some general and> frequent signs or symptoms seen with SI dysfunction

> kids are as follows: difficulty with coordination,> difficulty with fine motor skills, difficulty in> learning letter formation, picky about what they> eat, picky about the clothes they wear, picky about

> the sheets they sleep on, overreaction to gentle> touch, trouble with memory, trouble with learning> basic academic skills, difficulty with sequencing> events, lack of organization, and difficulty

> focusing on a task. > The most common medical treatment for children with> SI Dysfunction is Occupational Therapy. " The> treatment stimulates the central nervous system> properly, and the child's adaptive behavior

> improves. " During Occupational Therapy (OT) and> occupational therapist can help the child begin to> process the sensory input more efficiently in many> different ways most appropriate for the specific

> child being treated. Some children with SI> Dysfunction need to be touched firmly instead of> lightly, as most mothers would do. That is where the> therapist comes in and informs the parent or

> caregivers of this child to apply firm pressure when> hugging them or touching them. The therapist may> also recommend that the parent get or make a> weighted blanket for their child to get under at

> night or when ever they seem to be " running wild. " > By doing these simple OT treatment plans, the child> will begin to improve in being able to process their> sensory input organization; the child will begin to

> be more " calm. " Other medical treatment give to a> child with SI Dysfunction is Speech Therapy for the> children who may have had speech delays or problems> with their language processing skills because of the

> " unorganized " brain. > OT treatment intervention for SI Dysfunction can> include many different things and will be the best> thing for the child. " The central principal of this

> intervention approach is the provision of controlled> sensory input, through activities presented by the> therapist to elicit adaptive responses from the> child thereby bringing about more efficient brain

> organization. " OT treatment interventions that can> be done with a child with SI Dysfunction are the> brushing technique, applying of firm pressure, and> joint compressions. The brushing technique is done

> to " awaken " the sense of touch. When doing the> brushing technique you want to use firm pressure on> the entire surface of the arms, hands, back, legs,> and feet. The applying of firm pressure on a child

> can easily be given by using any weighted blanket or> vest, a large pillow, a beanbag, or large stuffed> animals. Using a weighted blanket to apply firm,> deep pressure will help the child calm down. After

> applying firm pressure, joint compressions can be> performed on or by the child. You can perform the> joint compressions on the child by gently pushing on> each joint for about ten seconds. The child can also

> compress their own joints and not even know they are> doing that. You can have the child do arm push-ups> against the wall, jump on the trampoline, or have> them do a wheelbarrow walk. There are so many

> different treatment plans that can be used to help> children with SI Dysfunction. > There are some precautions that an occupational> therapist or occupational therapy assistant should> know. One precaution for a child who is hyporeactive

> is to make sure they stay safe and do not> accidentally harm themselves when trying to get> proprioceptive input. The hyporeactive child has a> high tolerance for pain and decreased sensation, so

> the child may harm thereself and not even know they> have. The therapist will need to try and teach the> child to seek out proprioceptive input in more safe> ways and inform the child's caregivers about ways to

> help there child get the proprioceptive input they> need. Another thing therapists should do with a> child who has SI Dysfunction is to be sure to only> touch the child firmly from the front so the child

> does not feel harmed or scared when you touch them. > Children with SI Dysfunction will be able to grow up> to be mostly normal and with OT treatment, a child> with SI Dysfunction may grow up shoeing absolutely

> no signs of ever having a disorder such as this. A> child who was not able to receive OT treatment may> be able to compensate for their disorder and grow up> just fine as well. However, a child who grows up

> without OT treatment may also encounter such> problems as delayed language skills, continue to> have problems with food textures, and develop low> muscle tones. > The reason I selected this diagnosis is because I

> want to work with kids and I have seen kids with> this disorder. I also selected this disorder because> Sensory Integration Dysfunction is a confusing> disorder to treat and I felt like I could learn a

> lot about it if I did my research paper on it. This> diagnosis is also a relatively new diagnosis that> was recently discovered, making this diagnosis less> likely to be known. > There are some local and national community

> resources available for parents of children with SI> Dysfunction and I have listed a few that I found. > ~ ASK (Absolutely Special Kids) This is a group that> meets on an as needed basis. The group consists of

> parents whose children have Cerebral Palsy as well> as a wide range of other special needs. Call United> Cerebral Palsy at 704-522-9912 weekdays 9:00am -> 5:00pm for more information. They are located in

> Mecklenburg County. > ~ ECAC (Exceptional Children's Assistance Center)> This is a private, nonprofit organization committed> to improving the lives and education of children> with or without special needs. ECAC's services

> include individual assistance with educational> problems, referrals to appropriate services,> parent's advocacy workshops, a (free) lending> library, services for members of minorities, and

> free literature by mail on various topics. Call them> at 704-892-1321 or at 1-800-962-6817 Monday through> Thursday 9:00am 4:00pm. They are located at 907> Barra Row, Suite 102-103, son, NC 28036. You

> can also visit them at www.ecac-parentcenter.org. > ~ Sensory Integration Education and Research> Foundation (SIERF) SIERF is a primary resource

> provider in the education, research, and treatment> of Dysfunction of Sensory Integration (also known as> Sensory Integration Dysfunction). SIERF's dual> missions are to 1) provide education to consumers

> and professionals, 2) to support research efforts in> the areas of Dysfunction of Sensory Integration and> related disorders. The website attempts to meet the> needs of parents, educators, medical professionals,

> and therapists by providing access to every aspect> of SI. You can mail them at P.O. Box 30, Camp Hill,> PA 17001-0030, call them at 717-731-8672, e-mail> them at info@..., or even visit their website

> at www.sierf.org.> > by Chitwood> Sensory Integration Dysfunction, or Sensory> Processing Disorder, is a disorder of the senses.

> This disorder usually comes about when a person's> senses are functioning outside of normal limits. For> example, you might have or have observed a 4-yr-old> child who is withdrawn and stays to herself. During

> circle time at school, she will be hesitant to> participate in group activities, such as question> and answer sessions, naming objects through> encouragement by the teacher, or interact with her

> classmates. This could means that she's shy, or this> could mean that she has Sensory Integration> Dysfunction. She might have a hard time interacting> with her classmates because the contact, to her, is

> overwhelming === message truncated ===Spiritual freedom is my birthright. I am a free thinker. I am able to rise above mentalprejudices and stereotypes of others. I am a free thinker. Nobody and nothing can manipulate

me or deceive me. I am a free thinker. I freely choose truth and love. Today, I embrace a greater degree of spiritualfreedom.